"Can I confess something?" Viktor asked as he rolled onto his back holding the phone up above his head so Yuuri could still see him. "I'm scared shitless about this weekend."
Yuuri smiled softly at him. "Why?"
"Because…," he bit his lower lip anxiously, "I think there's a good chance I could lose." It was the first time he'd said it outloud to anyone, but he'd seen Yuri at the rink. He'd seen how much better he'd gotten already since Skate Canada. Meanwhile, Viktor just continued to feel like he was slowly slipping away.
"To Yuri?" Yuuri asked, reading his thoughts so clearly, because the omega could read him like an open book. Viktor nodded. "He's young and fresh talent, but you have experience. That goes a long way, Vitya."
Viktor huffed. He'd said the very same thing to Yakov in his office, but he hadn't believed any of it. "If I'm relying on him to buckle under the pressure, then I've already lost."
"That's not what I meant," Yuuri told him.
He sighed again and shook his head. "No, no, I know, but it's what I'm thinking. As my Yakuza boyfriend, can you make threats to the judges to score me well?"
Yuuri chuckled. "I have no friends among the Bratva, Vitya. I'm afraid I'm no use in Moscow. You'll just have to rely on that talent and charisma of yours."
"Really?" Viktor rolled back over onto his stomach. "Does that mean you have enemies here?"
The soft smile he loved so much on Yuuri's face disappeared. "Perhaps I would not call them enemies, but they will offer no warm welcome to me and my clan."
Viktor felt dread fill in the pit of his stomach. "Is it...is it safe for you to come here?"
"As long as I make clear my intentions for being here are not work related and I abide by their customs, there should be no issue," Yuuri answered. "They are aware of my affiliations with the ISU and I've come to Russia before for competitions and nothing has happened."
"Still, I don't want to put you in a bad position," Viktor told him, the dreadful feeling not dissipating at all.
"I can handle myself just fine, Vitya," Yuuri assured him. "Vse budet khorosho."
That feeling of dread was quickly replaced with a powerful flutter of his heart. "Yu-uri! You can't just speak Russian like that to me without warning! Oh! Speaking of that...Why is it that Omega can speak perfect Russian and you can't? Or, well, do you just...not?"
"Ah, that," Yuuri smiled uncomfortably and pushed his glasses up his nose. "I can speak Russian just fine, to be honest with you, I just...personally isolate it. Usually, the times I need to speak other languages like Korean or Mandarin or even Russian, it's for work. I like to keep work...work."
"You associate it with Omega, so you try and keep it with Omega," Viktor translated softly and sadly.
Yuuri nodded, lips pressed tightly into a thin line. "Yeah, it's kind of like that. I...I can try, though. For you. To speak more Russian, I mean."
Viktor got excited at the prospect, and grinned, but then he realized there might be consequences. "Would speaking Russian trigger Omega?"
"Honestly, I'm not sure," Yuuri confessed. "I have conversed in other languages as Yuuri, especially with Seung Gil, but it's always still...work."
"I see," Viktor muttered tightly. Yuuri still didn't fully trust him around Omega, despite his insistence. "Well, I don't want to put you in an uncomfortable position, but...I think it would be ok. If you wanted to try, that is."
Yuuri's jaw tightened. "We'll see how things go. I am sure I will be put in many positions where I'll need to speak it this weekend. Better to do it with a fail safe around."
"Seung Gil?" Viktor asked with dread. It had been so wonderful not having him around in China. Kenjirou was an absolute doll. A murderous doll, but a doll nonetheless. Seung Gil was just...murder. He would no doubt get an earful from the man after everything that had happened. He couldn't imagine he was very happy that Yuuri had told him the truth.
"Yes," Yuuri confirmed. "I know the two of you aren't fond of each other just yet, but I hope you can both be a little more open to one another. I need both of you. Please, promise me you'll try."
Truthfully, Viktor wanted very little to do with Seung Gil, but if Yuuri asked it of him, he would do his best. "For you, Yuuri, I would do anything. Though, you are telling him that he has to be on his best behavior, too, aren't you?"
Yuuri scoffed with a smile. "I will scold you both equally for misbehavior."
"Oh! I'd like to be scolded again by my Yuuri," Viktor cooed.
It didn't elicit the same reaction in Yuuri. "Vitya...when that happened in China, it was serious. I don't want that to happen again. We were both very lucky."
Viktor agreed that he was very lucky, but in a completely different way than what Yuuri meant. It had been scary at first, but now that Viktor knew what was happening, it would be fine. He could absolutely handle it. "It'll be ok, Yuuri. I promise."
Yuuri wasn't buying it. "I'm sorry, but I have to go. I'll see you soon."
Leaning down, Viktor kissed the screen. "Yes, you will, my love. Safe travels."
"Dasvidaniya."
It was a good thing that Yuuri hung up right after because Viktor's soul left his body and went straight to heaven. God, what he wouldn't do to hear Russian leave Yuuri's lips on a daily basis. He laid in bed, basking in the warmth from his long conversation for as long as he could, before he looked at the clock and realized that morning was drawing closer and closer and he still hadn't finished packing. While he was excited to see Yuuri again, Viktor also felt a heavy sense of dread for the competition itself. When was the last time the results had even been close at a competition he competed at? He couldn't remember. Even if he did end up being victorious, it would be by a slim margin. Russia had already decided that Yuri was their next hero, and Viktor didn't know if even a perfect performance could outdo the bias of the judges.
The thoughts were honestly enough to cripple a man, but he somehow pushed himself off the bed and made his way to his closet to pack.
There was no one at Rostelecom that Viktor would call a friend. There was no one he would even consider an associate, frankly. Viktor had always distanced himself from skating friendships purposefully, but he actually wished Chris or even Phichit were there. Maybe it was for the best. He could focus better this way.
Except he could barely keep his focus at all at the first official practice.
No matter how hard Viktor tried, he couldn't stop watching Yuri out of the corner of his eye. And it wasn't just Yuri, but the skater from Kazakhstan, too. Ota-something? There was young talent all around him and he was old. During his run through of his short program, he ended up marking his jumps earning him a heavy frown from Yakov and an angry wave over.
"What's wrong with you?" Yakov grumbled, arms tight against his chest.
Viktor grabbed a tissue and blew. "Nothing."
"Then why are you out there marking your jumps? I didn't tell you to do that. Are you sick? Hurt? Or is it that damned Katsuki-,"
"Yuuri isn't even here!" Viktor hissed angrily in response. Not yet, anyway. His stomach gave a sickly church at the reminder and he felt himself pale. "This has nothing to do with him. I'm just conserving my energy. I'm not 15 like your other students."
"You're scared."
The comment made Viktor visibly recoil. His jaw went tight as he gripped his water bottle to the point of making it crack. "I'm not-,"
"Don't lie to me, boy," Yakov huffed. "It's not only in your face, but in the way you move out on the ice. You're scared of losing."
Viktor had to keep his lower lip from trembling by clenching his jaw so tightly he lost feeling in it. He waited for Yakov to say anything that went against his nightmarish thoughts, but he didn't. "You know, this is usually when a coach gives words of encouragement."
"I have never been that for you and you know that, Vitya," Yakov told him honestly. "I have never told you what you want to hear, only what you need to hear, and you need to hear that you're scared. You need to recognize it and admit it. Only then can you do what is necessary to overcome it.
Viktor could feel his entire body shake in anger. Grabbing his water bottle, towel, tissue box, jacket, and skate guards, he threw Yakov a hard glare. "I'm done for the day." He gathered all sorts of stares as he stepped off the ice. There would no doubt be whispers behind his back, too. Viktor was scared. He had even admitted it to Yuuri, but he didn't think he was projecting so much that Yakov would see it, too. That meant others would see it. Yuri could see it.
By the time Viktor got his skates off and made it to the bus that transported the skaters between the rink and the hotel, he felt like just banging his head against the glass and screaming all while wanting to throw up on the side. He felt sick. Sick by the situation and just...sick. It only got worse when his phone started blowing up with twitter notifications. Rumors were already circulating as to why he left practice early. By the time he made it back to the hotel, there was even a full statement from Yakov. Injured. He'd said he was injured.
Viktor couldn't help but throw his head back and laugh all the way to the elevator. Yakov had set it up perfectly. If he won, it would be a miracle he'd overcome the injury. If he lost, well, he was injured. Running a hand over his face and through his hair he wondered how it had come to this. The only shining light in all of this was that Yuuri was due in later that evening. Yuuri would make it all better.
To no surprise, Viktor's suite was full to the brim with flowers when he entered. There was one bouquet in particular that caught his eye. Not just because it was the biggest, but because it was nothing but blue roses. Grinning ear-to-ear, Viktor searched for the card and opened it.
My Dearest Vitya,
I wish I could be there next to you reading this, but unfortunately I was wrong about the Bratva turning a blind eye to me if I promised I was not in for business. They have decided that there will be business. I do not yet know if it is good or bad, I just know that I cannot involve you until I know things are safe. I will do everything I can to make it to the competition, but know that no matter what I'll be watching. We will see each other, I just don't know when. Skate for me like you long for me.
S lyubov'yu
Yuuri
The card fell from Viktor's fingers to the ground. He was alone. Not only was Yuuri not coming, but he could potentially be in a dangerous situation now all because Viktor had made him come to Moscow. Viktor slowly took a seat on the edge of the bed and buried his face in his hands. It was so stupid. Viktor had skated without Yuuri there before and the omega would probably be just fine, but he cried. Tears slipped through his fingers to the floor as he let all the emotions he'd bottled up through the day loose. Viktor felt the most fragile he'd ever felt. How could he go through with all of this without the only support he had? Yakov didn't even believe in him anymore.
Viktor didn't know how long he cried, but eventually there was nothing left to cry and he was left to wipe away the evidence. Even after splashing his face with cold water he looked miserable. There was no way he was going out anywhere looking like that. Not like he had a reason to go out at all, now. He'd just stay in and order room service at this point.
After a way too long shower, Viktor emerged in the hotel robe and picked up the room service menu. He wasn't really hungry, but he hadn't really eaten all day and he knew he needed something or it really would be impossible to skate tomorrow. Thirty minutes later there was a knock on the door and he opened the door.
Seung Gil was on the other side with the tray and a heavy frown.
Viktor started to close the door in his face until Seung Gil stuck out a hand and pushed the tray through the doorway. "The feeling is mutual," the omega murmured as he entered, closing the door behind him. "What happened to you? You look like shit."
"Shouldn't you be with Yuuri?" Viktor asked, ignoring his question.
"Yes, I should be," Seung Gil growled angrily, "and yet here I am with you because that's what Aniki ordered."
Viktor flinched worriedly. Seung Gil was Yuuri's best man. If he wasn't with Yuuri, then he was vulnerable. Yuuri had made himself vulnerable for Viktor. It wasn't supposed to be like that. The alpha was supposed to protect the omega, and yet...it had never been that way with Yuuri, had it? It never would be. "Does he have someone else, at least? To be there with him?"
"Minami is with him," Seung Gil told him as he lifted the lid off one of the plates and helped himself to a bite. "He may not look like much, but he is fully capable."
Letting out a breath of relief, Viktor nodded. "Yuuri said that the Bratva wouldn't bother him if he said he was not here on Yakuza business. What happened? Why did that change?"
Seung Gil grunted. "That was either a lie or him being hopeful. Aniki interfered with their business, and I doubt they'll ever forget until he's dead."
"Wait, what happened?" Viktor questioned, back straightening and the fear returning again.
Seung Gil did not answer right away, his dark eyes burning a judgmental hole through Viktor and deciding whether or not he would answer at all. "I suppose since you now know the truth then there is no need to hold back on the gritty details of our work. The Bratva and the Triad have had a long standing trade agreement of omegas. You see, the Bratva find The Hunt beneath them. They'd rather someone else do the work and simply pay."
It was impossible for Viktor not to feel sick at the thought of it. Human trafficking was a horrible statistic in Russia that was swept under the rug, and yet it likely had happened right in front of his eyes. "Did Yuuri stop it?" He asked hopefully.
"It would be impossible for Aniki to stop the trade agreements completely, but he did steal the highest paid for omega in trade history," Seung Gil told him. "Aniki saw him and fell for him instantly. A weakness. I disagreed with his actions knowing the problems it could cause us down the line, but he was insistent. Now, that boy is the head of his very own Triad clan of omegas and Aniki's most loyal of allies."
A happy ending, at least. "Sounds to me he made the right decision, then. It's just a shame he couldn't save them all."
"Human trafficking is a top business with mafias of all countries," Seung Gil told him, taking a few steps towards him. "What makes you think Aniki doesn't take part? He could be selling alphas from right underneath your nose."
Viktor opened his mouth to immediately dismiss such a ridiculous thought, but something made him close it. Omega did hate alphas. He'd made that very clear to Viktor in China. Was it possible that he was doing such a thing? No. No. There was no way. "You're just trying to get a rise out of me."
"Am I? Or are you just too blinded by your hormones to see the truth?" He hissed angrily. "Aniki may have told you about his past, but there are still so many things about his present that you know nothing of."
"All of which I'm quite sure Yuuri will tell me in time," Viktor fired back. "Hate me all you like, but Yuuri is in charge, not you. As long as he wants me here, I'll be here."
Seung Gil scowled and leaned into Viktor's space. "Yes. Of that, I am painfully aware." He reached up a gloved hand and placed a finger against the exposed skin of Viktor's chest. "I can only hope that Omega does away with you in the middle of the night." He ran his finger down like the cut of a knife. "Or maybe, you'll be the next big item at auction. You'd fetch enough yen to do our clan for a year or better."
Viktor felt his skin go cold and his heart stopped beating for a moment. "Get out," his voice trembled.
Seung Gil didn't argue, retracting his hand and heading for the door. "Just scream if the Bratva come for you. Or maybe, don't."
When the door shut, Viktor almost collapsed against it. He couldn't help but clutch his heart in desperation, needing to feel that it was still beating beneath his chest. He knew realistically Seung Gil could never hurt him because of Yuuri's orders, but the weight of the threat was still so very real. It took several long minutes of Viktor focusing on his breath to calm down. The thought of food now only made him want to vomit. Not even bothering changing into real clothes, Viktor slid beneath the covers and pulled them tight around him.
Sleep avoided him like the plague.
/*/
"Vitya, for Christ's sake, did you even look in a mirror this morning?" Yakov asked the second Viktor showed up in the lobby.
"Yes, and there was little I could do about it, so here we are," Viktor told him. He looked terrible, and he knew it. He hadn't slept for even a minute and no amount of concealer could hide that fact. Viktor felt about as good as he looked. Miserable.
"I suppose we'll add sick to your condition report," Yakov huffed without an ounce of sympathy. "Get out of your own head Vitya, or today will be far worse than your nightmares."
"Thanks for the great pep talk," Viktor snorted as he brushed by him and onto the bus. He could feel the stares, especially from Yuri.
"Fuck, Viktor, are you ok?" Yuri turned around in his seat to ask. There was more concern in his voice than there had been Yakov's.
"I'm fine," Viktor said simply before sitting down and crossing his arms defensively. He wasn't.
Yuri's concern actually lingered and he didn't turn away. His mouth twitched, trying to figure out what he was going to say before finally deciding on, "If you don't skate you're best I'll kill you."
"You and everyone else," Viktor mumbled underneath his breath as he looked out the window. "Get in line."
Viktor was last to go, which was no surprise to him or anyone else. Normally, he had no problem with being in the last group or the very last to go, but today it just left him more time with his thoughts. No matter how loudly he blasted his music in his earbuds, it couldn't distract him from the horrors that ran through his mind. Images of Seung Gil with a knife to his chest, Omega's red eyes looking at him delight as his hands tightened around his neck. Viktor hadn't been afraid until now. Not until Seung Gil had said something. Why? Why now?
Because Seung Gil is Yuuri's failsafe against Omega, and yet Seung Gil has no desire to be as such.
Yuuri was placing his trust in Seung Gil to help keep Viktor safe should he fail to keep Omega under control. Yuuri trusted him . But Seung Gil's loyalty wasn't to Viktor, it was to Yuuri, and to him, Viktor's removal was keeping him safe. Fuck, he was so screwed. And Yuuri. Yuuri was in enemy territory with a group he had wronged. For all he knew, Yuuri was in trouble and there was nothing he could do about it.
Yakov tapped him on the shoulder and he knew the inevitable had come. With a heavy sigh he found a seat and started to put on his skates. Just as he pulled down the pant leg over his right skate his phone chimed in his ear with a message. He unlocked the phone and pulled it up. It was from Yuuri.
Yuuri: Davai!
Viktor brought the screen of his phone to his temple and let out a loud sigh with a smile. Yuuri was ok. He was fine, and he was watching. Viktor could cry. Whether he was there or not, he was watching. His tired body had a sudden spark of life. Sucking in a deep breath he recentered himself and stowed away his earbuds and phone. Yuuri would be waiting for him afterwards, even if only by text.
Yakov said nothing to him as Viktor handed him his skate guards and stepped out onto the ice. The cold air was refreshing against his cheeks. The smile he gave the crowd as his name was announced wasn't quite as forced as he thought it would have to be. After a few laps of quick footwork he threw himself into a few singles to get a sense of his footing. Not great, but not bad. It gave him the confidence he needed to launch off a triple-toe and then his triple axel. A little tip to the inside, but fine. It was all fine. Powering into backwards crossovers he moved to the center of the rink and stepped forward into a three turn. His toe pick hit the ice and he launched up into his signature quad flip. Once again, he landed too far to the inside, but he reached his right hand back and reloaded up into a triple toe. He threw both hands up over his head to try and fix his center of gravity, but it wasn't enough. Landing on the back of his blade he fell back and onto his side hard. There was a collective gasp from the crowd.
Viktor cursed as pain shot up his elbow. He didn't hop up as quickly as he used to, taking a minute to gain his senses before pushing himself up. Yakov shouted at him and he reluctantly skated to the barrier.
"Are you alright?" Yakov managed to ask before ripping into him. "What was that? Why did you even attempt the combo with such a poor landing on the quad? Hmm? You keep dropping your right shoulder. Fix it."
Swallowing hard, Viktor nodded without offering up any of his usual sarcasm. Pull yourself together, Viktor. Yuuri is watching, remember? Giving his arm several shakes he skated a lap and then went into a spin before attempting a jump again. Something overcame him as he stepped down into his mohawk before the salchow and he singled it. Shit. The announcer came on and gave them their one minute warning. Sighing, Viktor placed his hands on his hips and just skated with his gaze on the ice.
"You have five skaters ahead of you to put that six minutes behind you. Make it happen," Yakov told him as he handed him his guards.
When Viktor returned to the warm-up room, he found a corner and slid his back down, closing his eyes. He turned his music all the way up so he couldn't hear the cheers or the announced scores of the other skaters. A bad warm-up didn't mean a bad skate no more than a great warm-up meant a perfect skate. It would be fine. The adrenaline would get him through it like it always did.
Viktor had no idea what the score to beat was when he finally stepped out there. It didn't matter. He couldn't change the scores of others, only what he could obtain for himself. Yakov didn't give him a pep talk, only a firm nod with crossed arms. His name was met with the usual explosion of cheers and he settled into his pose center stage. His program opened with a triple axel. Not a picture perfect execution, but fine. It would get positive points. Letting out a breath of relief he relaxed a bit more. Next up was his quad salchow. He lifted his right shoulder higher than he thought he needed to to compensate for his problems in the warm-up. The landing had too much snow, a complete toe grip, but it had rotated and landed. Gathering up his speed he readied for his final jumping pass, his combination.
Just as he went up into his quad flip the flashes of his fall filled his eyes and he panicked. He dropped his right shoulder just as he had before and landed too far on his outside edge. There was no way he could get the toe-loop off so he three turned out of the landing and recharged. It didn't help. He had no momentum to get up into the jump, so he had to settle with a double. A double. Viktor was trained to keep his performance persona no matter what mistakes he made, but the mask fell right off him like rain. The only thing that got him through the step sequence and the final spins was pure muscle memory.
There was no smile as he bowed, only an intense feeling of wanting to cry despite the undeserved standing ovation and cheers. Horrific. That was the only thing to describe what he'd just gone out there and done. There were no words exchanged between him and Yakov as they sat down in the kiss and cry. Viktor tried to at least hide his emotions from the camera, but the hiccups in his breath gave it all away.
96.32
Viktor cringed.
"That's more than you deserve," Yakov grunted.
It was true, and Viktor couldn't deny it. Swallowing hard, he looked up at the screen to see where it placed him. Viktor winced as the results were listed and he bit his lower lip so hard it drew blood. Third. He was Third. He wanted to be sick.
"It's your right knee that's bothering you," Yakov told him simply. "I would also suggest that you worsened it during the warm-up fall."
Right. Feed the lie, because how else could Viktor Nikiforov be anything but perfect? Wiping at his eyes, he passed it off as being sweat by following it up with a swipe through his hair. Yuri had almost a fifteen point lead on him. Not only had he failed himself and his fans, but he'd failed Yuuri.
"I told you I'd kill you if you didn't give me your best, Viktor, and I don't break my promises," Yuri scowled at him as they took their places at the table for their interview.
"Put me out of my misery, then," Viktor responded, shoulders drooping as he placed his hands in his lap.
Yuri's green eyes went wide and his head whipped around. "Huh?! What the fuck is wrong with you? Wait, are you actually injured? Or sick? Or both? Why aren't you telling me to shut up like you usually do? Viktor, answer-!"
The room was silenced and the cameras turned on.
Viktor answered the questions as he was trained to do. His right knee was bothering him. Yes, he hit in during his fall. Yes, he also wasn't feeling well. A cold, maybe. Of course he would be seen by a physician. No, he absolutely would not withdraw. He's very happy for Yuri, of course. He is the future of Russia. He turned off his phone without looking at the notifications.
Seung Gil smirked and grunted happily as he entered the room. "The perfect Viktor Nikiforov is not so perfect after all." Viktor didn't say anything. "What? No rebuttal?"
"What do you want me to say?" Viktor asked him tiredly. "It was a terrible performance."
"Why?"
Viktor sighed, not wanting to do this right now. "Why what?"
"Why weren't you perfect?" Seung Gil clarified. "I can spot a liar. See them through the television, even. You aren't injured."
Sighing, Viktor kicked off his shoes. "It's just as you said - I'm not perfect. It's as simple as that."
Seung Gil's black eyes narrowed, not believing him. "Something is wrong. Maybe not an injury, but something. You smell…," he strode across the floor and closed the distance before bending down to actually sniff him. "You...hmph." Any form of light in his eyes disappeared and he scowled. "I shouldn't be surprised, and yet. Once again, I have to clean up your mess."
Viktor blinked, not understanding a word he was saying. He was too tired for this. "What are you talking about?"
"Stop ignoring Aniki," Seung Gil ordered him. "It'll be worse for you." He said nothing else before leaving Viktor alone in the room.
He knew that Seung Gil meant his phone, but he wasn't ready to look at it yet. Instead of a shower, he opted for the oversized tub. By the time the water went cold, Viktor wasn't sure if he was just imagining his knee hurting because it's what Yakov had told him to play up, or if it was actually hurting after the fall. This time, he managed to actually put on some clothes before crawling into the bed. It took him a solid five minutes to gather up the courage to turn on his phone.
Yuuri: Vitya, are you alright? I saw your fall. It looked bad.
Yuuri: Vitya? They said you're injured. Did you see the doctor? I can have the best of the best at the hotel in an hour, just say the word.
Yuuri: Vitya?!
Yuuri: Is this….my fault?
The sickness in the pit of his stomach that had been festering all day finally boiled over and he was sprinting to the bathroom. Tears followed the vomit as he emptied his already empty stomach into the toilet. Shaking, he wiped at his mouth and fumbled around for the handle to flush. Not only was he weak, but now Yuuri was blaming himself.
Viktor's phone remained untouched on the nightstand while he stayed sitting on the bathroom floor trying not to erupt in a full blown panic. Minutes passed. Hours? Viktor had no idea, he just knew that he didn't want to move from where he was.
The door suddenly opened. "Vitya?"
Viktor looked up and Yuuri was rushing towards him.
"Vitya! Vitya, look at me!" Yuuri fell to his knees and cradled Viktor's face in his hands.
Vitya blinked and his blue eyes went wide. Like a lightswitch, the horrible sickness he felt disappeared. He reached up and touched Yuuri's hand. "Yuuri! What are you doing here?"
Smiling in relief, Yuuri brushed Viktor's bangs out of his face tenderly. "You never responded to my messages, and Seung Gil told me you smelled strange. I knew I needed to come no matter what. I'm glad I did. Seung Gil was right. I'm so sorry, Vitya."
"Yuuri, it's not your fault, I-,"
Yuuri hushed him with a shake of his head. "No, it is. I don't know how this happened. An imprint should go away on its own after a week or so apart."
"Imprint?" Viktor questioned as Yuuri stood up and grabbed a washcloth. He turned on the water and soaked it in warm water before gently wiping Viktor's face.
"I somehow left an imprint on you in Beijing. I didn't mean to, I swear," Yuuri explained. "It can make you feel sick when separated, but like I said, it should have gone away on its own. I've never heard of an imprint lasting this long."
Viktor's eyes went wide in realization. "So...I really am sick?"
Yuuri let out a small chuckle. "Yes, in a way. Come on, let's get you to the bed. Seung Gil told me you haven't eaten in over a day. No wonder you look the way you do. There's some special herbal teas that will help ease the symptoms of the imprint. Kenjirou is out getting what we need."
An imprint. It wasn't unheard of or uncommon, but Viktor still seemed surprised it had happened. "But...I haven't felt sick until Moscow. Why did it take so long to surface?"
"I'm not sure," Yuuri confessed. "Maybe it's because you never actually felt we were separated until..," his face fell. "This really is my fault. I'm so sorry, Vitya. I was naive to think the Bratva would leave me alone."
It was then that Viktor noticed the bruising on the side of Yuuri's face that extended down his neck and beneath the suit that he wore. Reaching up, Viktor cupped the side of Yuuri's neck. "Yuuri...what happened?"
Yuuri flinched and grabbed Viktor's wrist to pull it away. "It's nothing. I'm fine."
"Don't lie to me," Viktor told him, eyes filling with tears for the hundredth time that day.
Sighing, Yuuri reached up and started to undress. The bruises spread all across his chest and shoulders and there were bandaged cuts on his stomach. "I won't say that I'm not lucky. I think I would be dead had Guang-Hong and his clan not come to my rescue. That being said, I think I made a powerful statement in my survival. Next time I don't think they'll be so bold in their attempts at me."
Viktor gently traced the bandages with his fingers and then pulled Yuuri up against him, burying his face into his belly. "You're hurt. You could have died all because of me."
"No, Vitya," Yuuri placed a hand on his head. "None of this is because of you. I made my own bed with my actions against the Bratva years ago."
"But you wouldn't even be in Russia if it weren't for me," Viktor argued.
Yuuri shook his head. "Business would bring me here one way or another. I cannot avoid them forever. This will not be the last time. My only regret is that I let it take me away from you. Are you ok? Really? Out on the ice…you looked lost."
"I was," Viktor confessed. "You're my inspiration, and you weren't there. It's stupid, I know. I've skated without you my whole life, but now it feels like I can't be on the ice without you. I let you down, Yuuri. I can never be your mate now." The tears returned once more.
"Vitya, what are you talking about?" Yuuri asked, wiping away the tears. "Our agreement was for you to win Olympic gold. Rostelecom doesn't matter, and you can still win."
Viktor huffed and then sniffed with a sad smile. "It would take a miracle for me to catch up to Yuri."
"Well, you're known for miracles," Yuuri told him, "but," he got on his knees so that he was looking up at Viktor, his palms resting against the alpha's thighs. "Vitya, I don't care if you win gold. As long as you'll have me, you could win nothing ever again and I will still love you. I just wanted to give you reason to continue skating. You'd lost your way, but I could be a guiding light."
A swarm of mixed emotions hit Viktor like a club. He was shaking and crying but breathing out in relief as he pulled Yuuri against him and held him tight. Yuuri didn't object, even though it likely caused him pain. "I was just so scared, Yuuri. That I would fail you and let you down. And Seung Gil-," Viktor clamped his mouth shut.
"What?" Yuuri pressed. "Vitya, what did Seung Gil say?"
Viktor clenched his jaw. He shouldn't. Seung Gil's words didn't matter. They were nothing but lies meant to turn him against Yuuri. Viktor wasn't going to fall for it. "Nothing. It's nothing, he was just trying to get under my skin."
A phone chime went off and Yuuri pulled away from Viktor to retrieve his phone from his pocket. "Kenjirou is almost here." Returning the phone to his pocket he started to button up his dress shirt. By the time he had smoothed out his shirt and jacket there was a knock on the door. He opened it and Yuuri could see Seung Gil and the bright colors of Kenjirou's hair. They all spoke in hushed Japanese before Yuuri opened the door further for Kenjirou to enter. Yuuri, however, stepped all the way through and closed the door behind him.
"Viktor-senpai! Don't you worry! I have exactly what you need here to fix you right up!" Kenjirou promised with a bright smile, arms full of grocery bags. He set them down on the table and started to pull things out. "And don't worry about the competition! I just know you'll go out there and make a huge comeback! But, even if you don't, it's ok! It's only the Grand Prix! There's still so many competitions to go, and the Olympics are all that matters. Well, I guess Nationals is pretty important since that determines who goes to the Olympics, but that's months away, too!"
Viktor couldn't help but smile when Kenjirou was around. There was just this infectious energy. But then Kenjirou turned and he noticed the bruising. Kenjirou had been hurt, too. Viktor closed his eyes in sorrow. "Kenjirou...I'm so sorry. It's my fault you're hurt."
"Huh?!" Kenjirou tilted his head and then touched the bruise on his cheek. "Oh, this?! Oh, this is nothing! I got this defending Aniki against the Bratva! I'm pretty proud of it! You should see the other guy!"
It was not the response he was expecting. "Do you...get hurt often? Defending Yuuri?"
"Yeah, sometimes," Kenjirou responded as he opened the top to what looked like a coffee cup. There was something in it as steam released into the air. It must have just been water, though, as he started to mix herbs together in a tea ball. "But that's just part of the job. Aniki saved my life. The least I can do is protect his."
"You'd die for him?" Viktor asked before realizing it was an incredibly insensitive question.
Kenjirou didn't blink twice. "Oh, yes! Without a doubt!"
Viktor didn't know what to say to that. Was there even anything you could say? Yuuri was loved by not just him, but everyone around him. Kenjirou let the tea steep for a few minutes and then held it out to Viktor to take. "Arigatou, Kenjirou."
" Pozhaluista!" Kenjirou responded with a wide smile.
Yuuri returned not long after and nodded a dismissal to Kenjirou. "Are you feeling better?"
"Yes," Viktor answered. "The tea has helped considerably."
"You should order some food," Yuuri told him, finding the room service menu and handing it to him. "Please, Vitya. You need to eat."
Viktor's stomach rumbled. Well, he was hungry. "Are you hungry?"
"I could certainly eat," Yuuri told him.
Viktor ordered plenty of food and set the menu aside. "Thank you, Yuuri. I'm really feeling much better. I didn't...I didn't ruin things for you, did I? I mean, did I ruin business by making you tend to me?"
"Believe me, things were already going very south," Yuuri told him. "I'm sorry. Seung Gil told me what he said to you. He had no right, and he will be punished for it."
As much as Viktor wanted to see Seung Gil taken down a peg, he shook his head. "No, don't. He was only trying to protect you, and I didn't believe anything he said. Truly."
Yuuri wrapped his arms around himself and walked towards the floor-length windows that lead to the balcony. "I'm usually very careful in my dealings with other mafias, but something overcame me when I saw Guang-Hong at the market. I'd seen many omegas in his position before, but I couldn't get him out of my mind. I had to do something."
"Guang-Hong was the omega you saved? And the one that saved you today?"
Smiling fondly, Yuuri nodded. "Yes. It seems to be a pattern between us, constantly saving one another. I will always hold a soft spot in my heart for him. He's done so well for himself. Even turned an American assassin who was paid to kill him into his lover. I couldn't be more proud."
"Impressive. Will I ever get a chance to meet this incredible omega of yours?" Viktor asked.
"Yes, actually. He'll be at the banquet with us," Yuuri told him. "Like me, he is a sponsor."
"Was he a skater, before, like you?"
"No," Yuuri answered.
Viktor thought about it for a moment before lifting an eyebrow. "I'm starting to think these sponsorships are just a very convenient way of money laundering."
Yuuri winked.
Oh. Ohhhh. "I see. So...you don't really care about figure skating?"
Yuuri laughed at Viktor's pout and leaned down to kiss him. "Oh, Vitya, I care very much. Have I not proved that to you?"
"Mmm, I could use a little bit more convincing," Viktor grabbed Yuuri's tie, but he pulled away.
"Nu-uh. You need to eat and rest. You've been through a lot today. And, frankly, I could use some food and rest, too," Yuuri confessed. "Oh, and by the way, I don't sell alphas."
With an amused huff, Viktor smiled. "Good thing for me. I would fetch you such a price!"
Yuuri laughed and kissed him.
Viktor didn't realize just how hungry he was until the food arrived and he sucked it down like a vacuum. Whether it was the tea, the food, or simply Yuuri, Viktor felt completely himself again. Despite all of that, all he could do was sit there and calculate in his head all the ways he could score the most points in his free program and still come up short. "I don't think there is any way for me to win."
Yuuri's fingers traced random patterns against Viktor's bare chest. "You don't have to win, Vitya. Maybe...maybe it's good that you lose now. Sometimes, losing in life is what we need to get ahead.
Maybe. Maybe it would take the pressure off of him going into the Olympics. If everyone had already written him off, there would be nothing to prove. He'd only be skating for himself and Yuuri, and maybe that was for the best. With a happy sigh, Viktor curled himself up against Yuuri and closed his eyes.
Viktor didn't know if he was awake or if it was a dream. Everything was dark around him, but a single finger made its way from his neck down to his belly button and then back up to his heart.
"Don't get comfortable Vitya . Things are just beginning."
Omega laughed into the night.
